The key question for next two Lakers games vs. Wizards and Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers must protect the paint against the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings.

The Los Angeles Lakers may have beaten the Orlando Magic as expected, but tonight’s rematch against the Washington Wizards will be the real test.

We have seen stretches when the Lakers simply did not allow any easy baskets. We have also seen stretches where it was a one-man parade to the layup line.

So what’s tonight going to look like? Or what it will look like Friday against the Sacramento Kings, who are missing their all-star point guard, DeAaron Fox?

Well, it’ll be tough given the Lakers’ defensive weakness coincides with both Washington and Sacramento’s offensive strength.

What is that? Points in the paint!

Washington ranks sixth and Sacramento ranks fourth in points in the paint scored per game. The Lakers rank 18th in points in the paint allowed per game, a black mark in an otherwise elite defense.

And it can start tonight.

So will the Los Angeles Lakers stop Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook from attacking the basket at will?

Make no mistake about it: the Washington Wizards are now who we thought they were, a fringe playoff team with not much else besides Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook.

Beal and Westbrook have put up MVP-level numbers. Beal leads the NBA in scoring. Westbrook is averaging a triple-double this season, similar to his MVP season in 2017.

It’s not just empty stats! Washington has won 8 out of their last 10 games thanks to Beal and Westbrook literally willing them to victories.

So how exactly are Beal and Westbrook dominating games?

Beal and Westbrook started to do what they do best: attacking the basket! Beal (34.9%) and Westbrook (31.8%) have been below-average three-point shooters this season.

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At some point this season, Washington moved away from a your-turn, my-turn style of isolation basketball to a faster-paced drive-and-dish style of offense where Beal and Westbrook’s sheer presence gives the other three Washington players open dunks or three-pointers.

The Lakers transition and interior defense will be tested early and often. Washington leads the NBA in pace of play this season – and the Beal/Westbrook duo ALWAYS play hard.

Beal and Westbrook scored a combined 65 points in their overtime win against the Lakers in their first meeting in the Staples Center back in February.

Will they replicate the same caliber of performance tonight?

So how will the Los Angeles Lakers play help defense?

Ultimately, it is up to Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond to shut down the paint. The Wizards’ entire offense is Beal or Westbrook getting the ball in the paint and then making a play!

But what about the other three guys on the court for Washington? Look for the commentators to reference “help-the-helper” a lot when talking about the Lakers’ interior defense.

What do I mean by “help-the-helper?”

AD and Drummond must not only contest Beal/Westbrook at the basket but also have the faith in the weak side perimeter defender to cover their man as they are contesting the shot.

That faith is truly going to be a leap…

Chuma Okeke got his NBA moment by posterizing Andre Drummond. Okeke should thank Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for the help (or lack thereof).

On that possession, the Lakers mistakes piled up:

• Kuzma needed to slide over to cut off Okeke BEFORE the ball got into the paint
• KCP needed to cut off the pass to Drummond’s man on the left block

AD and Drummond are the last line of defense, not the first line. They cannot cover two spots at one time! The Lakers guards must help and recover on every single possession.

The Lakers can live with giving up three-pointers to Washington, who are the sixth-worst three-point shooting team in the league this season. Sacramento is not known for its three-point shooting prowess either.

So, the focus must be on protecting the paint.

Closing Remarks:  

f the Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond duo is to be the most feared front-court in the NBA for years to come, then they can start by closing down the paint over these next two games.

Their rim protection is a strong last line of defense. Yet the Lakers perimeter defenders are also capable of shutting down opposing guards, including Russell Westbrook in last season’s playoffs.

Tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers need to make a statement against the Washington Wizards on ESPN. The question is, will the Lakers find the defensive mettle to slow down a superstar duo hitting their stride at just the right time?